“Violentandobservant,” Razik replied.
She sent him a bland look while she continued to unwind her hair. “Why are you naked?”
“I shifted.”
“But when you shifted back in the mountains, you were clothed.”
Razik shrugged.
“Youwantedto be naked?”
“I always want to be without clothing around you.”
“Oh my gods,” she muttered. “What if there had been other people around, and you needed to shift back?”
He leaned in close, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I suppose someone would have gotten rather possessive.”
She shoved him away, rolling her eyes. “Let’s go find you some clothing.”
“Are you not going to sit on your throne, your Highness?”
“First of all, don’t call me that. Second, no. It is not my throne.”
“But it is. You challenged the sitting royal and won…Princess.”
She gestured dismissively at the throne. “It was never his to begin with.”
“Maybe not, but that doesn’t change anything I just said.”
“Why are we even talking about this? Especially with you naked?”
“We can do something else if you wish.”
“Yes. I do wish,” she said. When his head tilted with interest, she smiled coyly and added, “I wish to go find you clothing.”
“Violent, observant, and a liar.”
The sound of frantic footfalls had them both turning to the Great Hall entrance where a number of warriors stopped short, looking from her to a very naked Razik to Bastien’s headless body. She pointed to a male near the front, as she stepped in front of Raz.
“Find Quinn, Kenna, and Bridger. Send them here immediately. Tell Bridger I want to know where every single one of our forces is currently stationed, and tell Kenna I want to know the status of our weapons and supplies.”
“Right away, Gen— Uh, your Highness,” the male said, turning on his heel and rushing out of the room.
She sighed internally and started to turn away, but her gaze collided with naked flesh. “And for the love of Anala, someone find my twin flame some godsdamn clothes.” Razik smirked at the very public statement of claiming, and she jabbed a finger at him. “Don’t say a godsdamn word.”
Of course he opened his mouth anyway. Or he did down their bond.
Violent, observant, a liar, and possessive.
I swear to Anala, Razik.
She dismissed everyone else, sending them scampering from the Great Hall, and when the doors shut behind them, she let out another long breath, dragging her fingers through her hair again. The hall was a godsdamn mess. The terrace doors were shattered. There was ash and blood everywhere. There was ash and blood everywhere onher.
Eliza opened her mouth to tell Razik that they should help with the cleanup, but before she could say a word, he was crushing her against him. Lips crashed onto hers, and she was kissing him back with all the leftover adrenaline of the fight.
He started walking her backwards, and she broke away to gasp, “We arenotfucking on Sorin’s throne.”
“But it’s yours,” he countered.